Many sports require a combination of extreme levels of physical fitness, mental agility, and skillsets. Badminton is one game that perhaps requires all the above attributes and even more. However, if you wish to become popular as a player, you must know the basics well.
Thousands of beginners start playing this sport in their right earnest and with the best of interests. However, after a few weeks or months, their interest levels and passion for the game start fizzling out. It is only a matter of time before they actually start giving up on the game and never reach the potential that they might have possessed.
The reason for this could be attributed to a number of things. The most important factor is perhaps not having a clear understanding of the game, the rules, and regulations, the techniques to be used, the court size, moving around in the court, among others attributes.
Hence, we thought that it would be a good idea to list down tips that could be helpful for beginners who are giving badminton a try.
These are 20 useful tips every badminton beginner should know.
1. Stay Indoors
Although badminton in the backyard is popular and quite convenient, if you’re serious about badminton, you should find a place to, regularly, practice indoors. The birdie is so light that the minimal breeze can change its course.
2. A Wobbly Shuttlecock
As a beginner, you must be aware that shuttlecocks, when they are faulty, wearing out, or in poor condition, have a tendency to wobble in flight. This could happen even in a closed environment where the wind speed is minimal. If that’s the case, maybe it is time to get a new birdie.
3. Badminton is Not Brawn Alone
While speed, physical fitness, strength, and being a well-rounded athlete are crucial to being a high-performance badminton player, you should also learn to play smart, and always have a game strategy in place.
This sport is about having the right strategy to wear down your opponent. You should learn this from the beginning, though you might not need it right away.
4. The Importance of Cross Training
While you learn and practice your badminton skills, it’s helpful if you, also, engage in other similar sports or activities that can contribute to your development on the pitch.
For instance, hitting the gym to work on your upper and lower body, as well as, your core. Also, getting into some well-thought-out cardio exercises that improve your physical performance.
5. Cooling Down
You’ve probably heard about the importance of warming up, but did you know that is equally important to cool down? As a beginner, it can be hard to understand the importance of cooling down. However, if you want to be injury-free, it’s a must-a-do. The idea of cooling down is to allow your body to return slowly to a normal state, after an intense time on the pitch.
Remember that badminton can be a physically demanding game, so cooling down should always be part of your routine, after, either, a practice session, a friendly match, or a competition.
6. Stance
Having the proper stance, especially the ready position, will make your learning process much more manageable. The adequate stance will ensure that you have balance while hitting the shuttle. Also, keeping a balanced stance will allow you to react quickly to the fast-paced of the shuttlecock, reducing the overall movements that you need to take.
7. Footwork
This game demands quite a bit of energy because players have to be nimble-footed and able to move around the court quickly. It is not about being fleet-footed and running all over the place. Your footwork has to be correct, and your stepping precise. Without this, you will not be able to reach the shuttle and hit it properly.
8. Know the Basic Grips
Like all other sport, as beginners, you must have a reasonable idea about the techniques that are required to play the game well. A typical error of many beginners is holding the racquet the wrong way.
Learning to hold the racquet properly is essential; you must know the right grips for hitting forehand and forehand strokes. This should be learned at the beginning of your badminton journey.
9. Service
Whether you’re playing a fun game of badminton in your backyard or a competitive match, to start a badminton point, you need to serve. Although it is something quite simple, it’s essential that you learn it the right way and try to perfect it as best as you ought to.
You could either use a forehand or backhand serve, or use them interchangeably to bring in that element of surprise. Also, whether you’re playing singles or doubles, it’s crucial that you know where to stand and the designated areas to serve.
10. Rules to Keep in Mind when Serving
As we mentioned before, the service is an indispensable part of badminton. So, as a beginner, these are some rules that you should be aware of.
When serving you must:
- Hit the shuttle below the waist
- Have both feet on the ground
- Hit the shuttle base first
- Stand diagonally of your opponent on the service court
- Hit the shuttle with a continuous motion
11. There are No Second Serves
Remember, unlike tennis, in badminton, there are no second chances when serving. So, if you mishit the shuttle, hit it on the net, or hit it out, you’re out of luck. So, make sure that you get enough serving practice.
12. Overhead Clear
The overhead clear is a vital shot to learn and master when playing badminton. The clear setup is similar to a drop shot, as well as, a smash. The primary purpose of this shot is to put pressure on your opponent by pushing her back on the court.
13. Drop Shots
Although not an easy shot to master, it’s crucial that as a beginner you’re familiar with it. The drop shots, which can be executed both as a forehand and backhand, are quite useful in bringing your opponent forward to the frontcourt. When done correctly, the drop shot will open spaces for you to hit your next shot.
There are mainly two kinds of drop shots: slow and fast drop shots.
14. Smash
The smash, probably the most aggressive shot of all, can be very effective when done correctly.
As a beginner, keep in mind that this is a tough shot to master because it requires a great deal of precision and timing, but at the same time a lot of energy. However, if you learn the correct technique and put enough practice, you should be able to use it as part of your badminton repertoire.
15. Net Play
Being able to play close to the net is an important skill to have, especially when you’re playing doubles. As a beginner, when learning to play at the net, try to keep it simple, and slowly start adding different movement and angles.
Two tips to keep in mind when playing at the net are to keep your racket up and take the shuttle high. Also, having proper control over your racket is crucial to execute good net shots. Three well know types of net shots are the tumbling, the net kill, and the net lift.
16. Know the Scoring System
Generally, matches are played to the best of three sets; each set is played up to 21 points, and it has to be won by a difference of two points, or until one side gets to 30 points.
Whether you’re are serving or receiving you can earn points, unlike the previous score system, where only the serving side could gain points.
17. The Line is Good
If you’re a tennis player, it’s probably an obvious concept for you to grasp. However, if you’re just starting on badminton, it’s vital to remember that shuttles that touch, even slightly, the line are considered good.
18. Choose the Right Racquet
If you are a beginner, there are quite a few racquet choices. You could go from one of the many well-known brands like Li-Ning, Ashaway, Yonex, among others. Make sure to take into account the weight of the racquet. It should be light, but at the same time, sturdy and heavy enough.
For beginners, as you’re figuring out your playing style, it’s recommended to start with an even balanced racquet.
19. Pick the Right Shoes
There are some requirements when it comes to badminton shoes. You should go only for gum sole shoes. Running shoes, tennis shoes, and other variants are not advised, and sometimes, not allowed.
Gum sole shoes are recommended because they allow players to move better on the pitch, as well as, to have a better grip.
20. One Step at a Time
There is no doubt that there is a learning curve when learning a new sport, and badminton is no exception. Be patient and try to learn one step at a time.
In closing
Although there are many more things you should know to become good at this sport, we hope that these tips can make your badminton journey easier. Remember to focus on the theoretical part of the game, as well as, the practical aspect of it.
We suggest that you look on the web, especially on YouTube, for videos on badminton for beginners. Here is a video that we found especially useful “Basic Badminton for Beginners.” Also, if you’re interested in learning more about the rules of badminton, we suggest you take a look at the following article “Badminton Rules & Regulations: 25 Basic Things To Know (Scoring…)“.
If you think we should add other tips that a badminton beginner should know, please let us know in the comment section. Thanks!